Lammycat

I always get a smile listening to most of Jonathan Richman's stuff, particularly:"My Little Kookenhaken," "Ice Cream Man," "New England," and "Roadrunner."

Varitek formally filed for FA today, apparently. SI's Top 50 Free Agents and a blurb on each: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writ...?eref=fannation

Macha took OAK to the ALCS in 2006. He also had a decent win percentage in OAK and led them to two AL West titles. The other two strong candidates are said to have been Bob Brenly and Willie Randolph. But yes, he has fallen short of the mark as a manager, and there have been mumblings before about his relationship with players.

The haircut's working!

You noticed!

Oh c'mon. It was a lob. A lob!

Jules' wife's hair.

RHP Leo Nunez to KC for FLA's 1B Mike Jacobs DET passes on Renteria's $12 M buy-out option Macha to be named MIL manager: http://www.rotoworld.com/content/Headlines.aspx?sport=MLB

Congratulations to the Phillies and their fans. Here's to another long winter and hopes for "your" team to go all the way next year....

Denver Post's always-amusing Troy Renck on the WS and a few suggestions for making baseball better to watch. B2 will appreciate the NYY/BOS game-length reference and I agree with his take on scheduling double-headers throughout the season.... http://www.denverpost.com/renck/ci_10850213

Garlic in hot oil Melted butter Bacon being cooked Horse/cow manure/farm smell (from a distance) Scented magic markers Anyone bbq-ing burgers in the neighborhood. The ocean. A freshly bathed baby/Johnson & Johnson baby shampoo A Christmas tree ed. damnit...beaten to the punch on a few....

I agree with the "argument" being centered on this point, but I don't necessarily see an overrated tag being applied due to $ paid to the closer if the value to the team is that of sound mind knowing the guy can close games out on a very consistent basis.

I agree on both counts. I was on stage for Wilco/Sheryl Crow at red rocks in 1997 (i think it was, maybe '98) and had a nice view of their backs, basically. I've always liked general admission shows in order to find sweet spots where the sound is great and I'm not physically mashed up against other humans. I can't take that. Generally, right behind the soundboard is always a perfect spot for me.

I feel love for the closer but some have viewed the closer position as an overrated position. I really don't want to stir up the debate yet again so we'll leave it at that?

Gah! Of course- I mean they have interest (supposedly) in I-rod (NYY) as well as interest in trading him to DET. Sorry. I do like Laird, though why would they need 'Tek?

Shhhh....closers are overrated!

I don't think they will. I think the most they offer him will be a 2-year contract and he will be in a limited role (2-3 games/week). BOS really needs to trade him for a younger catcher. I've heard the Tigers might be interested in trading I-Rod (not really younger) and that the Orioles' Ramon Hernandez and the Giants' Bengie Molina are being tossed around (again, not really younger). I also disagree that he needs to retire. He's got value to a team that can afford him and has a need for a limited/back-up role. He's still an asset to pitchers (particularly young pitchers) and young catchers

I wouldn't take that bet. Though I don't know where you are, voter turn-out is looking to be pretty huge. In '04, I went on election day (Denver) at about 5 p.m. (polls were supposed to close at 7 p.m.) and the line at my local polling place was a 3 hour wait. i didn't have the time to wait and missed out on voting, even though they kept the polling places open until 10 p.m. or so for everyone that was in the line up until 7 p.m. ed. I forgot about the additional polling places on election day (jff).... maybe it will be better.

There was no space to write in a candidate for president, but Gary Busey is now in the running for US Senator.

He's not overpaid if there's a market/need for him and if there's an abundance of money (which there is). It's been argued that even the "outrageous" contracts are actually under value for what the revenue is in MLB.

Happy birthday, Hollinger. :badger

This is a good point.

CC Sabathia? NYY?

And here we go.....

Well that's that.